David Petraeus sworn in as new CIA director

General David Petraeus(L), former head of the allied forces in Afghanistan, takes the oath of office as the next director of the Central Intelligence Angency from US Vice President Joe Biden on September 6, 2011 during a ceremony at the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

David Petraeus, newly retired from the U.S. Army, was sworn in as director of the CIA in a ceremony led by Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House.

Biden praised Petraeus, a former four-star general, as a man of honor who has excelled at everything he has done, and always been willing to sacrifice for his country, the Associated Press reports.

Biden also praised Petraeus for his leadership in the U.S. military following the September 11, 2011 attacks on the United States.

His swearing-in ceremony took place less than a week before the 10th anniversary of the attacks on New York and Washington that drew the United States into protracted wars against al Qaeda and its allies, Reuters says.

Petraeus takes over as CIA director from Leon Panetta, who has moved to the Pentagon as secretary of defense, succeeding Robert Gates.

At his retirement ceremony last week — his last day in military uniform — Petraeus urged politicians not to let budget cuts decimate the U.S. military.

“We have relearned since 9/11 the timeless lesson that we don’t always get to fight the wars for which we’re most prepared or most inclined,’’ Petraeus said at the ceremony, which was held at the parade ground at Fort Myer, near Arlington National Cemetery, The New York Times reports.